To the editor:
When the pandemic swept through our region, we witnessed something extraordinary: neighbors showed up for one another. Porch drops of food and medicine. Notes of encouragement in mailboxes. Generosity flowing not just in dollars, but in kindness and time. That spirit of mutual care continues to define Athens County, a place we are proud to call home.
Today, many of our neighbors are once again facing hardship. Cuts to SNAP benefits and ongoing economic uncertainty have left too many families struggling to put food on the table. Food insecurity is rising across our region. While local pantries and the Southeast Ohio Foodbank are working tirelessly to meet the need, the demand is outpacing the supply.
Still, our community continues to show up.
We see the quiet work being done every day: volunteers shelving groceries in food pantries and serving community meals, donors giving what they can, local businesses offering a helping hand or a free meal, educators sending an extra snack home with their students, and social workers and nonprofit staff doing so much more with less. These are our community leaders — people rooted in this place, responding with compassion and resolve. They are stretched thin, but they have not stopped caring.
Now is the time to join them.
If you have the means, consider making a donation to a local food pantry, the Southeast Ohio Foodbank, or any nonprofit that supports our community. If you have time, explore opportunities to volunteer with one of the many organizations working on the front lines. Ohio.givepulse.com is a great place to start. And if you’re already involved, thank you. Your presence matters.
And here is something we all can do: check in on a neighbor. A kind word, an offer to share a meal, or simply listening can be a lifeline for someone carrying more than they let on.
Let’s also remember those working behind the scenes. Nonprofit professionals, healthcare workers, educators, and caregivers are part of the fabric that holds this community together. Their work often goes unnoticed, but it is essential. A note of appreciation or a small gesture of support can go a long way.
Athens County has a long history of taking care of its own. We’ve seen it time and again: through floods and layoffs, through isolation and illness. We are strongest when we act together, when we recognize each other’s humanity, and when we lead with gratitude, generosity, and kindness.
So let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep reaching out. Let’s keep being the kind of community where no one faces hard times alone.
Kerry Pigman
Executive Director, Athens County Foundation
Megan Riddlebarger
Executive Director, Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development
Kelly Hatas
Executive Director, Hocking, Athens, Perry Community Action Agency
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